Cat very unhappy about his cat shirt. Anything I can do the help?

[Crunchymum]

Due to wound on neck not healing (he's scratching and licking himself). I've had to put him in a cat shirt - similar to one pictured.

It's been 24 hours and quite frankly he's pitiful. Looks so sad, is spending a lot of time sitting and he's doing this weird thing with his front paws - he's kind of trying to flick them like he's stepped in something.

Is there anything I can do to help him? Or it just a case of letting him get used to it?

He could need this on for weeks? Vet said his furr can take 8 weeks to grown back (and until it does everytime he scratches his neck he's opening his wound)

Its either that or the wound reopens each time. Nothing else for it. Its depressing for the cat. Hes not going out I take it?

He's an indoor boy (with access to a terrace) but he uses a litter tray etc.

To add extra insult, he needs ointment twice a day so we have that as well as him being trussed up.

I've never seen a cat actually look so sad before. He's also hating me as I'm ointment giver / the one who put the shirt on.

He also suffers from recurrent cystitis (managed successfully with special food) but I'm worried the stress is going to give him a flare.

He's not having much luck, poor boy.

My two had those shirts after their spay. They hated them and did a lot of odd walking (including the flicking leg thing you describe).

One of them did sort of get used to it. The other chewed a hole in it right where the wound was and had to wear a cone of shame which was even worse.

8 weeks is a long time though, ours only had to wear it for 10 days and it wasn’t about the fur but about the the wound having healed enough that scratching at it wouldn’t open it up (when the jackets came off they were still bald but the wound was secure).

The only good thing was that they were more affectionate while they were in the jackets (seeking comfort and not wanting to run about!)

Have you tried feliway?

Poor boy. Would a dressing on the wound and then one of those soft cat collars be better (my girl had a soft one that was shaped like a flower I got from Amazon)? Or do you feel that would irritate the wound?

Or I wonder if you could cut the tshirt so at least only his front legs are in it.

My cat would MURDER anyone who even THOUGHT about trying to put that on her! No idea how you’ve done that?!

Or look up Kitty Kollar. I had that once for a cat with a feeding tube and it didn't seem to bother her.

mine was atrocious with the collar and worse with the shirt. But she had to put up until she healed because she could not stop reopening her wound! But yes- pitiful is the word. So sorry for themselves. So miserable. It feels cruel. But it’s not. It’s necessary.

@stormsandsunshine maybe I misunderstood the vet about the length of time? Although the wound began as a bald patch (tuft of hair was missing) but it wasn't a wound until he scratched at it? So I'm worried he will just keep at it until the furr grows back? The leg flicking thing is the worst for me though as it just looks so bizarre. He seems to distressed?

@rubiesthatigaveup I cut the shirt before I put it on so its only covering the bare minimum but it still over neck, front paws and some of his torso.

@SummerDaysOnTheWay I put it on whilst he was asleep. I was actually very fast and before either of us knew it he was trussed up 😆 he keeps giving me evil looks though so I'm totally in the bad books.

@Nonametonight going to order some Feliway now. What is best to order?

I think it's likely that he will adjust within a few days.

He will definitely be very happy to be rid of it when the time comes, but will probably stop looking quite so miserable about it pretty soon.

It's much better than a cone. At least he can eat, drink, use the litter tray and groom some parts of himself without restriction.

My cat had to wear a cone plus bandage for about a month last year and he learned to live with it OK, though he was a little depressed and was over the moon to be free. It took around 3-4 days I think before he sort of accepted the situation.

Well the little shite managed to get it off - at 11.30 last night so that was fun!

I guess I trimmed it a bit too much so he was able to get front paws out and the wriggle his neck out? I genuinely do not know how though? (could the other cat have "helped" him? The neck is pretty tight)

I have managed to get another one ordered for later and in the meantime I have fastened this one with a ribbon in a way that wont choke him.

I cannot believe the palaver - all in with vets x2 and x5 bodysuits and Manuka honey (which we haven't used) I have spent about £300!!!

The good news is the actual wound seems to be getting smaller so my efforts aren't in vain.

** I ordered the bodysuits from Vinted to begin with - x2 new and in the packet but they were way too small so they I went to Amazon. First bodysuit I snipped the neck as it felt too tight but then the wound wasn't covered, 2nd bodysuit I trimmed too close and this was the one he escaped from. 3rd time lucky with the right size I hope.

Feliway Optimum is what my vet recommends (dcat also prone to urine infections and blockages and we use special food, cystaid capsules mixed into his breakfast with a bit of boiling water, and let him lick out the cornflakes bowl).

We had an overgroomer which spent almost 6 months in a doughnut ring 23 hours a day. By the end she acted as if she wasn't wearing one, whereas at the beginning she was convinced her head weighed too much. I ended up making increasingly larger ones because she learnt how to squish them and get to her stomach. And also how to turn them round and round to itch her neck. That said it did - eventually - break the cycle.

Our cats seemed to forget how to walk when a bodysuit was put on. They would just fall onto their side and lie there, looking pathetic.

They were also very accomplished at getting out of them. At least once or twice a day we'd have a game of 'hunt the bodysuit'.

Thank you all for sharing your stories.

Makes me feel a bit better about my pitiful little weirdo.

When the bodysuit first went on he did that "fainting goat" thing (where they just fall on their side with all legs straight!). Was sad and hilarious.

He seems fully trussed up again so let's see if this bodysuit lasts the night!

Our old boy (sadly he keft us last year aged 23) had a really nasty bite on his neck that he wouldn't leave alone. We made him a triangular scarf type(bandana)thing which he tolerated. His house mate used to pull the tied bit to release it,we soon noticed 😹he did look very cute.

Are you using d manoose for the uti situation?

I haven't heard of this? I'll check it out.

Special food has helped, he hasn't had an episode for a good year now and when he does we use Cytophan in his wet food.

Our cat had this once. He did get used to it after a day or two.

Well he's still in his bodysuit!!

Wound has healed but he's managed to scratch his bald patch through the material of the bodysuit (albeit a very mild scratch) so he's going to have to remain in his suit until his furr grows back.

He is much, much better with it now. Still looks a tad pathetic but it's for the greater good.